In Jan Wong’s entrancing expose Red China Blues, she details her plight to take part in a system of “harmony and perfection” (12) that was Maoist China. Wong discloses her trials and tribulations over a course of three decades that sees her searching for her roots and her transformation of ideologies that span over two distinctive forms of Communist governments. This tale is so enticing in due part to the events the author encountered that radically changed her very existence and more importantly, her personal quest for self-discovery.…
The essay “Mother Tongue” describes a writer who grew up with a mother of Asian origin and the limitations created by her mother’s speech. The author, Amy Tan, defines her mother’s English as “broken” and that it created communication barriers. For example, when Tan’s mother would need to call her boss about work, she would rely on her daughter to make the phone call and use proper english. When Tan decided to go into English in college, it seemed foolish since she was more skilled in math and science. The author also mentions how not everyone’s speech is the same, but that is not a bad thing. Tan decided to start writing fiction, and write a book in a way her mother would comprehend. Though the writing was harshly critiqued, Tan knew she…
After reading Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior by Amy Chua, I learned three key differences between Chinese and Western “mothering.” First, Western parents are focused on the physiological behavior of academics and self-esteem issues with their children while Chinese parents are not. Second, Western parents view their children to try their best and do not need to repay the parents, in contrast Chinese parents view their children to be permanently in debt to them. Last, Chinese parents believe that they know what is best for their children. Western parents will not over-ride their children and allow their children do what it is they desire.…
John Anderson supported his daughter's musical interests and, when Anderson was eight, bought her a piano. Marian taught herself how to play the piano. At the age of 10, Marian’s family move with her grandparents. Her mother supported all of them.…
Part One - She now begins the story of her childhood from age five in 1950. She describes the rush of mornings living in any neighborhood…
In the short story “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan, with the use of epiphany and turning points the reader is able to see the protagonist’s growth and change in personality throughout the story. The protagonist, Jing-Mei and her mother emigrated from China to the US, thus the family struggled in adapting to the new culture and lifestyle. Heavily influenced by the opportunities and hopes with a new life in US, Jing-Mei’s mother wanted Jing-Mei to become a prodigy like the other girls on television. Jing-Mei was determined and eager to prove to her mother she was a prodigy, and thereby had full confidence in herself. She believed “[her] mother and father would adore [her and she’d be] beyond reproach.” (pg4). As Jing-Mei’s mother quizzed Jing-Mei with countless questions and tests, Jing-Mei started getting frustrated by her mother’s disappointments and “something inside [her] began to die” (pg 5).…
Amy Tan has a contentious relationship with her mother perceived from her hostile tone. All mother-daughter relationships have troubles. In excerpts from Amy Chua’s memoir, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom, and Amy Tan’s novel, The Joy Luck Club, mother-daughter relationships can be seen through diction, and tone. The annoyed tone in the situation between Amy Chua and her daughter shows a caring relationship while the hostile and hateful tone in Amy Tan’s excerpt shows a poor relationship with a hateful past.…
The article "Why China?" by Sara Dorow is about the specific reasons why Caucasians adopt Chinese children. Caucasians, whether single, married heterosexual, gay lesbian couples are more likely to choose transnational adoption than domestic adoption because the whole adoption process in China is more flexible as some parents who adopted children from there said. The people who wanted to adopt or already have adopted from China said that they wouldn't have to worry about the child's parents showing up to "reclaim their child or children," unlike domestic adoption. They also mentioned that because culturally the mothers in China don't smoke or drink and therefore, they are more than likely give birth to healthy babies. However, in…
Amy Tan’s essay “Mother Tongue” Tan grew up in a home with her Chinese mother who spoke English that she considered “broken”. It was difficult for others to understand what her mother was saying. Tan then realized that when she was with her mother that she spoke English differently than she did. She was trying to figure out how her background affected her life, such as her education; but she eventually learned to except her background. At the same time Tan wanted to become a writer and she found that by spending time with her mother who again spoke “broken” English. Even though she was told that writing was her worst skill by her boss, she was determined to make it work.…
The Secret Language of Sisters by Luanne Rice shows you of the special bond between sisters. It reminds you of the mistakes people make and how they can be fixed. The novel tells the story of Roo and Tilly McCabe and the horrific car crash that changes their lives forever.…
Once one becomes part of the parents only club, one is expected to make the right decisions for one's child. Which is, giving one's child a chance at every possibility to obtain success. But, how much of it is truly for one's child and how much is for one's own personal fulfillment? In the short story by Amy Tran ‘Two kinds” we see into the life of a young Chinese American and her mother, who wishes for nothing less than her daughter to be a protege. As readers learn about how Mother goes about with this desire, one comes to question her motives. Does she want this because she believes this is truly what her daughter needs or, does she want this for herself, in order to fill a void left by her past? This selfish desire causes a clash between mother and daughter.…
As its complex structure suggests, the book tries to organize the the stories of mother and daughter with the intention of reaching the same destination: the daughter's recovery of her cultural and ethnic identity as Chinese by overcoming the generational gap and the cultural differences between herself and her mother. The mother intend to hand over their "good intentions" and "usable past" in China to their daughter in America. Amy Tan, depicts the relationship between Jing-mei, a young Chinese-American girl, and her mother, a Chinese immigrant, her mother. She does not have something special things. However, her normal life has changed a little because of her mother.…
“What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you’re good at it.”(411) The Statement from “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior,” by Amy Chua, is an opinionated article on western and Chinese parenting. In her article, Amy Chua compares the way Chinese parents raise their children and the way American parents raise their children. She shows both the positives and negatives on both sides of parenting. Amy Chua uses Logos, credibility, and Compare and contrast in her passage. Each rhetorical strategy is supposed to help the reader have a clear outlook on the two parenting styles and which parenting style is preferred. The authors give stable credibility, but lacks of an objective in her comparing and contrasting, and lacks reliable…
In the short story “The Chinese in All of Us”, Rodriguez says, “I think of myself as Chinese” (242). It only brought the thought to my attention that he must be confused. Like most minorities, he gives off the impression that he’s trying to “fit in” America. Searching for identity and suiting himself with redundant thoughts for the comfort of acceptance and feeling the pleasures of the modern American society. I am a minority and I’m expressing from experience. Rodriguez says, “… culture is something we breathe, sweat, and live”. (242). If this is true, then what is his reasoning for choosing to identify with one ethnic culture other than his own? Why would not he just…
“For all the Tea in China -How England Stole the World 's Favorite Drink and Changed History…